Next week, 3rd – 9th February 2025, is Race Equality Week 2025, and this year the theme is #EveryActionCounts. The annual UK-wide initiative was established by community interest company, Race Equality Matters (REM), following the seismic and devastating events of 2020. It aims to address the barriers to race equality in the workplace and...
New protections from workplace sexual harassment are in force
Workers in the UK are now afforded new protections from sexual harassment in the workplace, with employers required to create a safe working environment. A new duty under the Equality Act 2010 has come into force which requires all employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of their employees, including by third...
Diversity and inclusion must be a year-round effort
As Pride Month reached its conclusion, the message from workplace health and safety bodies was clear – we must push for equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace throughout the year to ensure that people can “bring their whole selves to work” and feel safe. In a blog article to celebrate Pride Month in...
Aspiring to a gender equal world of work this International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day – a global day to celebrate the achievements of women, raise awareness about discrimination and highlight the actions we can take to reach gender equality – falls on Friday 8th March. The global awareness day, which isn’t country, group or organisation specific, was first held in March 1911, when it was...
Race Equality Week asks us to listen, act, change
This week, 5th-11th February 2024, is Race Equality Week in the UK, with the aim of addressing barriers to race equality in the workplace. Run by Race Equality Matters (REM), the annual movement is a positive force for action that unites hundreds of thousands of organisations and individuals across the country for this key...
Take action for National Inclusion Week 2023
This week (25th September – 1st October) is National Inclusion Week 2023 in the UK, and the theme for this year is all about taking action to support people at work and make a positive impact. Founded by Inclusive Employers, National Inclusion Week is dedicated to celebrating inclusion and taking action to create more...
IOSH says flexible working can boost health and safety
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has welcomed new regulations that support flexible working, saying it leads to “positive mental health and physical health.” The world’s largest professional health and safety body says the benefits of flexible work patterns also include “healthier and more sustainable lives” for workers and “lower absenteeism or...
Sexual harassment of girls ‘widespread’ in schools
A group of MPs has called for a government-led strategy to engage boys in relationship and sex education, improve safeguarding and tackle sexual harassment of girls. The Women and Equalities Committee have published a report in which they describe sexual harassment of girls as “a scourge” in England’s schools and claim that it is...
IOSH calls for better support for disabled workers
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has called for improved practices and better support to enable disabled workers to work. IOSH have spoken out after an MP called on the government to do more to ensure that people with disabilities can work from home as part of its bid to tackle labour...
Fully inclusive workplaces ‘crucial’ to business success, says IOSH
As Pride Month comes to an end, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has spoken about how fully inclusive workplaces are “crucial to the success of organisations.” The world’s largest occupational health and safety body have said they believe that making sure that all employees feel safe at work is key to...
Skills for Care investigates key issues affecting BAME workers
A recent survey from Skills for Care has found that adult social care workers from black, Aisan and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds face significant challenges with racism, progression, representation and health. People from BAME backgrounds account for 1 in 5 of the adult social care workforce in England, but despite playing a crucial role...